. >> are you encouraged by john kerry's appointment as secretary of state? >> i think it's really interesting. it's kind of a no-brainer. many people expected him to be, he's been very close to president obama. he's traveled. he's got a war record, veteran of the vietnam war. and he's very involved in that. and it will be very interesting because he'll also know what the limits are in terms of congress and the whole american system when it comes to enacting foreign policy. >> are you encouraged, optimistic by where the arab spring may go this year or are you quite pessimistic? >> i've been optimistic from the beginning. there will always be bumps in the road. but for me, this monumental epochal history-making situation in that part of the world is positive. and democracy is what has to happen in that part of the world. we're seeing the ugly side of the fallout in mali. but that can be dealt with if the west is willing to do it. you can't pussy-foot around these people. you have to be there for the long haul, whether it's politically difficult or not. you don